Shelves stacked with a variety of candies in heart shapes. Roses of every kind, everything pink or red, and stuffed animals that are either extremely ugly or kind of cute with cheesy catchphrases on a heart they hold. And then there’s that flying fat baby with a bow and arrow in its hands. Valentine’s Day, the day of love. Whether it’s platonic or romantic, people just can’t stop themselves from buying heart-shaped gifts.

This year, consumers are expected to spend billions of dollars on the holiday. The question one would ask themselves: “Is it worth it?” It might be no, but that doesn’t stop anyone. That’s the greatest part about it all. Your valentine could be with you for 40 years, 2 weeks, or even tell you, “I don’t do relationships.” Whatever it is, many will go beyond measures for the people they feel deeply for. They buy them a 40-count bouquet even if the flowers die, a box of chocolates that never have good flavors, jewelry that probably will tarnish, a handwritten note they might lose, and some corny stuffed animal. 

Is Valentine’s a marketing strategy for consumerism? 100%! It’s the concept of loving someone so much that no amount of money on random or homemade gifts could be a waste (even if physically, it is because all of the useless gifts will eventually end up in a landfill). You possibly could be reading this article and doing a double-take on what you’re getting your Valentine now. I think that Valentine’s Day is special for everyone, no matter what. There’s no such thing as too much love, and something about an entire holiday being dedicated to love is so beautiful. It’s important to express how grateful you are for someone every day, but getting to share a day with a friend or a significant other allows people to pause and cherish the significance of that person. Hey, if you’re a gal with no romantic someone special, you could celebrate Gal-entine’s Day. If you’re a single bro, celebrate Bro-entine’s Day. This year, whether you’re someone’s Valentine or not, show the people you care about that you’re grateful for them.